SKIP TO CONTENT

toxicology

/ˈtɑksəˌkɑlədʒi/
IPA guide

Toxicology is the field that studies poisons, especially how poisons work and how to treat them. If you’re writing a true crime story, you should study toxicology to know what happens when the villain poisons the victim’s tea. Mwah ha ha.

Have you ever seen a label that said "toxic"? That means that substance will harm you. Toxicology — which is a branch of pharmacology — has to do with toxic substances (poisons). It comes from the Greek word for “arrow poison.” Not all poisons come at the end of an arrow, though. If a toxicology report is done on a dead person, it will reveal if they had any dangerous substances in them, such as illegal drugs or drain cleaner.

Definitions of toxicology
  1. noun
    the branch of pharmacology that deals with the nature and effects and treatments of poisons
    see moresee less
    type of:
    materia medica, pharmacological medicine, pharmacology
    the science or study of drugs: their preparation and properties and uses and effects
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘toxicology'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family